Stephen Sanders

After trying to get someone else to publish my poetry for years, I finally independently published my first few books. After several years of doing books, both my own and anthologies, I have opened "Blackbead Books," a publishing firm that is part of Seadog Enterprises, LLC. We specialize in "adventure poetry" but are moving in more than one direction. I have now published several books of poetry, a book of photography, and a nonfiction title.

My background is as a poet and a performer. I write rhyming tales that have either a heroic or horrific element. I also write modern poetry and fiction. I find that modern readers of poetry, in contrast to my fellow poets, want to read verse that tells a tale and lifts them up or thrills them.

My favorite story is one involving a good friend I'll call "Cookie." He was the grill master at a small Renaissance faire where I used to perform. I was on stage, in the tavern, reciting a piece called "Farewell, Brave Lion." I noticed that he was in the kitchen, still cooking, but reciting the poem along with me. He loved it so much and had heard it enough that he memorized it. When he joined in the cheers at the end of the poem, I knew he would remember the poem for the rest of his life.